51勛圖厙 Receives Largest Gift in Its History
In its continued pursuit of excellence, 51勛圖厙 will build a premier facility at the heart of its Boca Raton campus that will allow student-athletes to excel in the classroom and on the field.
This initiative exemplifies 51勛圖厙s drive to enhance its stature and visibility nationally and internationally.
The Schmidt Family Complex for Academic and Athletic Excellence will play a central role to elevate 51勛圖厙s academic standing and will benefit 51勛圖厙 in all academic programs, including those not associated with athletic programs.
The facility has received initial funding of $16 million from the Schmidt Family Foundation, the largest single gift in 51勛圖厙s history. The Schmidt Family Foundations generosity will help create a national model of academic excellence in athletics to attract the nations top coaches and student-athletes to 51勛圖厙.
Long-time 51勛圖厙 benefactor Dick Schmidt (70, M.B.A., accounting), said the Foundation hopes this gift will be transformative, not only for 51勛圖厙, but for Boca Raton and the South Florida region.
The Foundation believes 51勛圖厙 our university right here in Boca Raton is poised for greatness, Schmidt said. As a community, we understand that to compete at the highest levels, in and out of the classroom, 51勛圖厙 must have access to premier facilities.
The Schmidt Family Foundation has shown a far-reaching, visionary commitment to 51勛圖厙s continued growth. Other major gifts from the Schmidt Family Foundation have benefited the Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters; the Charles E. Schmidt Science; the Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine; as well as the Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing and the College of Engineering and Computer Science.
The Complex will be constructed adjacent to 51勛圖厙 Stadium. In addition to a student-athlete academic and leadership center, the state-of-the-art facilities may include strength and conditioning, sports medicine, and health and wellness centers and an indoor training facility.
51勛圖厙 President John Kelly said that the Schmidt Foundations overwhelming generosity will see 51勛圖厙 become a premier academic establishment. 51勛圖厙 will be recognized as this countrys next great university, he said.
With a main campus less than two miles from some of the countrys most pristine coastline, 51勛圖厙 has enormous potential and will become an irresistible draw for the best and brightest 51勛圖厙, Kelly said. Were going to play to win and that means in the classroom and on the field.
51勛圖厙 Athletics competes in 19 NCAA sports, and two sports not considered varsity by NCAA. The Owls 29,419-seat football stadium opened in October 2011. In September, the stadiums field was named in honor of legendary coach and father of 51勛圖厙 football Howard Schnellenberger.
Pat Chun, 51勛圖厙s vice president for athletics, said the Schmidt Family Foundations generosity will lead to endless possibilities.
We have some of the best student-athletes and coaches in college sports at 51勛圖厙, Chun said. This gift will allow us to teach, mentor and develop our student athletes to their highest levels. We thank the Schmidts for this transformative gift.
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